Atomizer



G. STEiNBERG Oct. 23, 1951 ATOMIZER 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filgd Feb. 26, 1947 Fey. 1

, mill G JINVENTOR z=e or tei her BY J H/g J ATTO NEY 3 Sheets-Sheet s \HlllllllllllllllllllllllllllIllllllll G. STEINBERG ATOMIZER H Al.

Oct. 23, 1951 Filed Feb. 26, 1947 F 3 9 \lllllllllllllllllllllllIlllllllllllllllll Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED STATE S PATENT OFF I CE AT B.

Gregory Steinberg, Bayside, N. Y. Application February, 26, 1947, Serial No. 731,001

11 Claims. 1.

The invention here disclosed relates. to atomizers and particularly those of the small, portable type for carrying in the pocket, pocketbook, or the like.

Important objects of the invention are to pro: vide a small; size, neat appearing device of this character, which when closed will be fully and fel ealed and hi-Qh. w en released. mlocked will furnish, with very little efiort, instant nd. efi e v at mization qfj iqu s .9 as rume a id edic nal'pr arat ons Spe ia ob e s o he. nventio a e to ov de qnr nient. ns ant op r ble d. P c c m ans. or aoc pli hine. h o kin and, 9 ingogf t e ice.

B r o a i urpo o the, invention to.

pr ven t e. s l n lo ure. me n om tacting the spray nozzle and drawing. out loose liquid in the pumping strokes furnishing the atomization.

Further special objects are to provide an atomizer construction of the character indicated which will be made up of relatively few, simple, rugged parts readily assembled, which can be produced at low cost and which in some instances will be self-aligning and hence not involve expensive machining and assembling operations.

Other desirable objects and advantages attained by the invention will appear in the course of the following specification.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification illustrate certain present preferred embodiments of the invention. Structure and operation, however, may be modified and changed as regards the immediate illustration, all within the true intent and broad scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

Fig. 1 in the drawings is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the atomizers, shown with the plunger released and ready for pumping action, the intermediate portion of the plunger rod shown broken away for lack of space;

Fig. 2 is a generally similar view taken on a difierent plane and showing the plunger at the bottom of its pumping stroke, with the nozzle sealing element spaced a definite distance away from the tip of the nozzle;

Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sectional views as on substantially the plane of lines 33 and 44, respectively, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a broken longitudinal sectional view showing the plunger fully depressed and secured in locked position, with the spray nozzle and vent tube fully sealed;

Figs. 6 and '7 are perspective views of the rotary plunger locking and releasing ring.

Fig. 8 is a broken vertical sectional view of portions ofthe cylinder, plunger and piston structure illustrating how theseparts may be eccentric or off center either by design or accident, andwill; be operative in suchrelation;

Fig. 9 is a broken vertical sectional view illustrating amodified form ofmeans for automatically fiecting separation of the seal from the spray nozzle during pumping operations, the parts" appearing as after release and automatically offset for pumping operations.

Fig. 10 is aside elevation of the latter construction, in the closed and sealed condition;

Fig 11 is a crosssectional view as on substantially the plane oi line I lll or Fig. 9

Fig. 12' is a perspective view of the eccentric thrust member or washer.

The device consists in'general of a small piston pump within a closely surrounding casing which provides the liquid chamber, with passages providing for atomization, and a ring rotatably mounted on the upper end of the casing and serving for locking and for releasing the plunger which actuates the piston of the pump.

The casing is shown as a tubular member l5 having a head, plug or body portion I6 secured in the upper end and havinga plug I! for liquid filling purposes screwed in the lower end of the same.

The top or body portion [6 is shown as annularly shouldered about the upper portion to provide between it and the surrounding wall of the barrel or casing, an annular groove or channel I8 rotatably receiving the inwardly shouldered, dependent skirt portion [9 of the control or looking ring 20.

This ring is shown as rotatably confined in this relation by a screw 21, Fig. 3, extending through an arcuate slot 2-2 in the skirt portion I9 of the ring into the body of the plug or top member It.

The control ring 20- is shown in Figs. 1 and 10 as knurled or striated to'provide a grip for the turning of this ring to the extent permitted by the securing and stop screw 2|.

The pump structure shown as made up of a cylinder 23' secured in the under side of the'body member [6 and a piston24' operating in said cylfrom the lower end of the liquid chamber 30 surrounding the pump cylinder, up through the top member I6 and terminating in a spray nozzle 3|.

A short and small diameter vent tube 32 is shown extending from the upper portion of the liquid reservoir chamber, up through the top member I6 and terminating at the top substantially on the same level as the nozzle 3!.

In Fig. 2 an air tube 33 is shown extending from the lower portion of the pump cylinder up into an air passage 34 in the head [6 and which passage, as shown in Fig. 1, terminates in an upwardly inclined discharge outlet 35 directed radially outwardly over the top of the atomizing nozzle 3|.

Small vent openings 36 up through the head l6, provide quick relief for air trapped in the upper end of the cylinder above the piston.

The pump operating knob 28 is shown hollow at the under side to accommodate a sealing gasket or washer 31 of rubber or other suitable resilient material, backed up by a loose metal washer 38 under tension of spring 39, the spring mounted sealing washer being confined in this relation by the in-turned lower rim 40 of this cap structure.

The parts are so designed and proportioned that with the plunger all the way down as in Fig. 5, the sealing washer 31 will be held firmly closed over the top of the nozzle 3! and the vent tube 32.

To hold the piston plunger in the fully closed and sealed position, Fig. 5, a locking pin 4! is provided in the present disclosure, sliding in a radial bore 42 in the top l6 and having a rounded inner end to engage. in a more or less correspondingly rounded annular groove 43 in the piston plunger.

The locking pin 4! is controlled in its radial movements by t e surrounding skirt portion IQ of the turn ring 20 and which is shown in Figs. 2, 3 and '7 as having an opening 44 to admit the outer end of the pin to release it from holding engagement with the plunger.

Additionallv the s irt portion of the ring is shown as having anot er opening 45 to accept the sprin pressed detent ball 46 in the unlocked or re eased position of the parts, Fig. 3.

The lockim ring 20 is further shown as havin an openin 41 to ali n with the sprav nozzle 31 when the ring is in the release position shown in Fig. 1.

To effect an auto atic se aration or longitudinal eytensi n of the arts. such as to prevent the seal from touc ing the nozzle during pumpin oper tions. a s ring 48 is shown in Fi s. 1 and 2. en a ed ab ut the lower end of the p un er bet een an abutment was er or flange 49 on the plun er and the piston 24 to form an expansible and compressible coupling between the two.

This smaller diameter sprin 48 is stiffer than the larger piston ewoansion sprin 25 and enough so to act as a yieldable stop, preventing further downward movement of the piston button than that shown in Fig. 2 during normal pumping operations.

In such relation the sealing washer on the under side of the plunger button is supported well above the top of the nozzle 3!, as shown in Fi 2. This, however, does not limit the full inward stroke of the piston. It merely insures that at the end of the full compression stroke the sealing washer will be held separated from the d nozzle and hence not be wetted by contact therewith.

When, however, it is desired to close and seal the atomizer, it is merely necessary to press the plunger inward with sufficient additional force to overcome the stiffness of spring 48 and to turn the locking ring to force the holding pin 4| into engagement with the groove 43 in the plunger stem, Fig. 3. This may all be accomplished by one simple, combined inward thrusting and rotary motion on the plunger and securing ring.

Keeping the washer 31 clear of the nozzle 3! during the pumping stroke avoids drawing in particles of liquid up off the top of the nozzle and prevents spattering and objectionable wetness about the top of the nozzle both during pumping and under sealing conditions.

Leakage is prevented by the resilient washer being firmly and yieldingly pressed against both the nozzle 31 and the air vent tube 32 by the washer spring 39.

When the parts are closed and sealed as in Fig. 5, the operating knob or button 28 is substantially fully telescoped within the ring 20, closing the opening 4! through which the spray is discharged and leaving the device with no exposed or uncovered openings.

Other means may be provided for preventing the sealing element from contacting the nozzle during pumping operations, such as the structure shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, where the spindle 21a is of angular cross section and therefore held against rotation in sliding through the correspondingly shaped guide opening in the head l6, and the operating button 28 has a cam or screw engagement with such non-rotating spindle.

In Fig. 9 the spindle is shown as having a multiple or high pitch screw thread 50 on its upper end engaged by a corresponding nut 51 in the operating button.

The spray discharge opening l'a is shown opened up through the top of the locking ring. or sleeve 20 to admit, in the fully closed and sealed. relation of the parts, Fig. 10, a lug or pin 52 pro- ,iecting from the side of the button.

Then when the ring 20 is turned to unlock the spindle, in that same act the cap will be turned relative to the spindle and thereby through the cam or screw connection 50, 5|, raised or lifted away from the top of the nozzle.

The screw thread connection indicated at 54L 5|, is of the self-locking type so that the buttonwill normally stand in the same position to which it has been turned by the locking ring 2%! and consequently be in position for the lug 52 to enter the open slot 41a when the button is pressed to actuate the atomizer. This engagement of the lug in the open notch in the ring insures that the parts can be immediately locked closed by simply turning the locking ring in the proper direction when the plunger is pushed all the wa down.

In both forms of the invention considered the operating button is automatically extended upon unlocking the plunger, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 9, so that thereafter the sealing washer 3'! will not contact the spray nozzle 3| in the pumps ing action of the device, and this separation or extension is accomplished without limiting the stroke imparted to the piston. In each instance the piston can be pushed all the way down to the: bottom of the cylinder to make a full stroke, without touching the sealing element, to the end of the nozzle. When, however, the locking ring is. turned to lock the parts the sealing washer will.

he forced down. firmly over: the: top: oi the. nozzle, substantially-as: indicatedlimfiliga Thev pumping: cylinder: may: be: arranged cone centricallyor: eccentricallywithin. the,- casing.

In some instances; the? over-all; diameter can. be:

reduced. by. disposing; the; pump cylinder eccena tricall'y, substantially as represented in. Figs. 8-, Stand 11.

In Fig. 8 the spindle or pistomrodlfl; isshown as: eccentrically disposed. within cylinder 2-3. In such case the abutmentwasher-Msmay be rotate ably engaged with: theend of the: spindle-a rarresented at 53.

The same is generally true. as: to the: construetiOII. shownzinFigs. 9, 11 and. 12, where thepthrusti washer: as is rotatably connected with the; lower" end; of the spindle 21a. at 53 so; as to. leave. theseparts free to: adjust-themselvesto the eccentricity; In the latter construction the thrust member as bears directly on the piston 2 k instead of, through the medium of an interposed spring; such as at AS-inF-ig. 1.

By arranging the pump cylinder 2.3eccentrically: Within the casing I 5 space may be obtained at one side; for example, for a larger sizeliquidtube 29 and the space-thereby lostat the oppositeside' may still. be large enough for the. smaller size vent-tube 32.

Thus the parts may be placed-to-best-advantage without increasing, the over-all diameter of the device.

The. constructionand arrangement, of parts en... ables the device. to :be. made.- up in particularly small, attractive form. While fully sealed when.

notin use, it is alwaysl ready for instant use. The: act of unlocking it automatically. efiects a sepaa ration ofthe closure. from. the spray nozzle so. that. even. with the full pumping stroke the. closurev will not contact the nozzle. Hence. the 010,- sure will be kept dry and ready to seal. the. nozzle as soonas the pumping operations arecompleted, and it will then completely closethe; nozzle'without. leaving any surface. liquid about. the same.

The final act in closing the device, involving the.

lowering of the knob oi the plunger to compress the heavier or stronger spring. in the first instance or turn the head on its screw mounting in the second instance, serves to yieldingly set the closure firmly down over the ends of the nozzle and the air vent tube. The locking pin. assists in this operation, the inner, rounded. end of the same acting as a cam in the annular groove in the plunger to force the plunger inward to its lowest position in the cylinder. In this final position the spray outlet in the side of the locking ring is closed by the plunger knob passing down inside the ring Thus in the final position there are no uncovered openings. The presence of the opening in the ring, however, is desirable as indicating the location of the spray nozzle, so that in unlocking the device the person may observe the point of issuance of the spray and use the device accordingly.

The washer 49 may have a loose fit inthe cylinder so as to operate as aguide for the lower end portion of the spindle. 2'1. This washer may be screwed in position over the lower, reduced, screw threaded end portion of the spindle, as in dicated at 1.0. The spindle 2T may then be inserted from the bottom of cylinder 23 up through the head- IS. The piston 24 may then be inserted in the cylinder with the coupling spring 48 above it and the piston raising spring 25 below it, after which the disc 26 for closing thelower end of the cylinder may be secured as by screwing it into liQ 6' the lower end; of: th cylinderia r so deringbra in ;.or.-oiherwise fas n-innit solacelitter-this: the knob on operating button- 218 carrying the Sealing washer; 31- m y be; screwed onto: he; 131m je ii e pper. nd of; the. spindl The sec ndyforma of: the. invention. illustrated Figs. 9. and I-OJmay-be; assembledifrom the bottom; i-nza generally similar manner.

In both; forms the pis ton;has,a free floatingaction in the: cylinder; betweenv the coupling spring; 48 and; liftin pri Zlt in. the. first: fo m, and... lot-av tween the; abutment washer 49 and the; lift-m spring 25. in. thesecondziorm.

Thisfioating pistoniforrn1of; construction avoids; he IEIE BSSii XfiQI" extreme: accur cy in e; ien:- m-entof Partspermi ting; misal n t: or. a: con: siderable. degree; of; eccentricity as between the;- plunger andipi-ston: Without tendency of the piston to=j amgingthecylinder;

The: air.- compressed', by the pistonis full utilized because the: piston spring 2-5;, in its compressed position occupies the; annular. space within the piston; The piston; at: such time may actually; engage the. bottom; wall 250i thecylinder; as in-- dicated in-,F.ig;. 2. The. latter feature is of; further advantage instopping the piston at a point to: preventtotal compression of spring 25 Thisavoids. straining or tiring the spring, insuring, maintaining; itin. condition. for; mo t ff ctive on? eration.

In. the first form of the invention, Fig. 1, the, relative separation andlifting, of the closure; away from the. nozzle is automatically effected substan: tially slmultaneoul-y with. the releasing of the. plunger by the. locking ring, whereas; in the; second form of the invention, Fig. 5, the closureseparationmay beconsidered as-a synchronized step or stage in. the. action of releasing the piston. plunger. In bothconstructions the closure. separation may thereforebeconsidered as, a definite. part of or stage. in the releasingaction of. the plunger...

While, because of theparticularly compact arrangement of parts, the invention is of special importance for small size atomizers, it will be appreciatedthat it may be used with advantage. for tab l e model and other size atomizers.

What is: claimed is:

1. An atomizer comprising a casing having a, spray delivery nozzle. at the top, an air pump in saidcasing for supplying the atomizing force for said. nozzle, said. air pump including a cylinder,. a. piston operating. in said cylinder, a plunger for. actuating the. piston. projecting from the top of. the casing and. having an operating head onthe,

upper end of the same, a closure for the nozzle carried by said operating head. and engageable. with the nozzle. when the plunger is. fully lowered. in the. casing, releasable means. for holding theplunger lowered with, said closure in engagement. with the nozzle and means for automatically efiecting limited, further separation of said closure inrespect t0v said. piston upon release of said holding means, to prevent engagement of the closure. with the nozzle during normal, full-length pumping. strokes of theplunger andpiston and including an. extensible and collapsible connection interposed at a point between said piston at the lower end of the plunger and said operatinghead at the upper end of the same operative, when released, to effect pumping action of the piston 2. An atomizer comprising a casing having a spray delivery nozzle at the top, an air pump in said casing for supplying the atomizing force for said nozzle, said air pump including a cylinder, a piston operating in said cylinder and a plunger for actuating the piston projecting from the top of the casing, a closure for the nozzle carried by said plunger and engageable with the nozzle when the plunger is fully lowered in the casing, releasable means for holding the plunger lowered with said closure in engagement with the nozzle and means for efiecting limited, further separation of said closure in respect to said piston upon release of said holding means, to prevent engagement of the closure with the nozzle during normal, full-length pumping strokes of the plunger and piston and said means for efiecting such further separation including a yielding but stiff spring connection between the plunger and piston and there being a spring for lifting the piston but less stiff than said connecting spring.

3. An atomizer comprising a casing having a spray delivery nozzle at the top, an air pump in said casing for supplying the atomizing force for said nozzle, said air pump including a cylinder, a piston operating in said cylinder and a plunger for actuating the piston projecting from the top of the casing, a closure for the nozzle carried by said plunger and engageable with the nozzle when the plunger is fully lowered in the casing, releasable means for holding the plunger lowered with said closure in engagement with the nozzle and means for efiecting limited, further separation of said closure in respect to said piston upon release of said holding means, to prevent engagement of the closure with the nozzle during normal, full- -length pumping strokes of theplunger and piston and said means including an inclined cam connection between the closure and plunger, the plunger having a non-rotative sliding movement in the top of the casing and the holding means aforesaid being operative to shift said cam connection for the purpose described.

4. An atomizer comprising a casing having a spray delivery nozzle at the top, an air pump in said casing for supplying the motive force for atomization, said air pump including a cylinder, a piston operating in said cylinder and a plunger for actuating the piston projecting from the top of the casing, an operating head on the upper end of said plunger, a closure for the nozzle at the under side of said operating head, a ring for securing the plunger rotatably adjustable on the upper end of the casing and means for automatically effecting limited, further separation of said operating head and piston upon releasing movement of said securing ring on the casing and including a stifi connecting spring between the plunger and piston, there being a less stiff spring in the cylinder for raising the piston and plunger.

5. An atomizer comprising a casing having a spray delivery nozzle at the top, an air pump in said casing for supplying the motive force for atomization, said air pump including a cylinder, a piston operating in said cylinder and a plunger for actuating the piston projecting from the top of the casing, an operating head on the upper end of said plunger, a closure for the nozzle at the under side of said operating head, a ring for securing the plunger rotatably adjustable on the upper end of the casing and means for automatically efiecting limited, further separation of said operating head and piston upon releasing movement of said securing ring on the casing,

including a fast screw connection of the selflocking type between said operating head and the upper end of the plunger, the plunger having a non-rotative, sliding movement up through the top of the casing and said securing ring being engageable with said operating head during the releasing movement of the securing ring to efiect turning of the operating head on said screw connection.

6. An atomizer comprising a liquid containing casing, an air pump including a cylinder mounted in said casing, a piston operating in said cylinder and a plunger projecting up through the top of the casing, a liquid tube extending from within the casing and terminating in a spray delivery nozzle on top of the casing, a looking ring rotatably adjustable on the upper end of the casing, an operating head on the upper end of the plunger, a sealing washer at the under side of said head for closing engagement with the top of the nozzle, a spring within the cylinder for lifting the piston and plunger, a stiffer spring interposed between the plunger and the upper side of the piston and means operable by said locking ring for securing the plunger in fully lowered position with said relatively stifi spring compressed and the operating head lowered with the sealing washer in closing engagement with the top of the nozzle.

'7. An atomizer comprising a casing having an annular groove in the upper end of the same, a ring having a reduced lower end portion rotatably engaged in said annular groove, a cylinder within the casing, a piston operable in said cylinder, a plunger for actuating said piston projecting up through the top of the casing, said plunger having a recess in the side of the same, a pin radially slidable in the top of the casing into engagement with said recess, the reduced skirt portion of the ring being engageable with the outer end of said pin to thrust the same inward into holding engagement in said recess in said plunger and provided with an opening to permit outward plunger releasing movement of said pin, an operating head on the upper end of said plunger, said head being telescopically engageable in the upper portion of said ring, a sealing washer carried by said head at the under side of the same, a liquid tube extending from within said casing and terminating in a spray nozzle on top of the casing in position for engagement by said sealing washer in the fully depressed position of the operating head.

8. In an atomizer having a spray nozzle, a pump plunger carrying a sealing element for engagement with the nozzle when the plunger is fully depressed, that improvement which comprises the provision of a relatively stifi spring which will become effective as soon as the piston is released for pumping action to separate the closure element from the nozzle and will hold said element spaced from the nozzle in the full length pumping strokes of the plunger but may be compressed to permit the closure element again to lower into sealing engagement with the nozzle at the end of the pumping operations.

9. An atomizer comprising a casing having a pump cylinder and a spray delivery nozzle actuated from said cylinder, an operating plunger projecting from the cylinder, a floating piston operating in said cylinder, a spring for lifting said piston and a floating operating connection between the plunger and piston, including a spring interposed between and forming the sole means of connection between the plunger and piston.

10. An atomizer comprising a casing having a pump cylinder and a spray delivery nozzle actuated from said cylinder, an operating plunger projecting from the cylinder, a floating piston operating in said cylinder, a spring for lifting said piston and a floating. operating connection between the plunger and piston, including a spring interposed between and forming the sole means of connection between the plunger and piston, said piston having a cavity in the top of the same enclosing said connecting spring and an annular cavity in the bottom of the same receiving the piston lifting spring.

11. An atomizer comprising a casing having a pump cylinder therein, a piston operating in said cylinder, a spring for lifting said piston in the cylinder, at stop limiting the downward movement of the piston in the cylinder to a position where said lifting spring is still under expansion, a plunger operating down through the top of the cylinder and a coupling spring between said plunger and piston, said coupling spring being stiffer than said piston lifting spring and arranged to thrust the piston to the limit of its stopped movement without substantial compression.

GREGORY STEINBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,934,359 Lagerholm Nov. 7, 1933 2,345,853 Margolies Apr. 4, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,966 Great Britain May 26, 1892 294,927 Great Britain Sept. 13, 1928 

